Endurance Ride Scheduled at BLM’s Fort Meade Recreation Area

A three-day horse endurance ride competition will be held at the BLM-administered Fort Meade Recreation Area located east of Sturgis, July 29 - 31.

The Fort Meade Byway, also known as the "BLM road," will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from the Alkali Creek Recreation Site to the junction of State Highway 34 due to horse traffic and continuing road reconstruction. The road closure will start at 8:00 a.m. July 28 and will end at the conclusion of the endurance ride around 6:00 p.m. on July 31.

The primary camping areas at Alkali Creek Recreation Site and Alkali Horse Camp have been reserved for event participants from July 27 through Aug. 1.

The Centennial Trail Fort Meade Trailhead will be used as an event staging area and veterinary check-point on all three days. The public is invited to watch the competition. There will be 25 and 50 mile events on Friday and Sunday; on Saturday there will be 30, 55 and 75 mile events.

The recreation area will remain open for day uses during the endurance ride but the public should be mindful of horses on roads and trails. Tent campers and horse campers not associated with the event will be accommodated in alternative locations if feasible.

All Fort Meade Recreation Area camping facilities will be closed Aug. 2-17 due to the Sturgis Rally.

For more information contact Bill Monahan at (605) 892-7003.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.